JP3718443B2 - Attached equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure when an information terminal device and an accessory device that provides an electrical function to the information terminal device are integrated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an information terminal device such as a personal computer (including both a desktop type and a notebook type) and a mobile phone device and an accessory device that provides an electrical function to the information terminal device are connected by a predetermined connection cable. It was common to be connected.
[0003]
However, in recent years, since it is cumbersome to carry the connection cable, an accessory device having an external connector that can be directly connected to a base connector provided in the information terminal device has been developed. If it does in this way, it will become possible to connect an information terminal device and an accessory device directly, a connection cable will be unnecessary and convenience will improve.
[0004]
FIG. 9 shows an example of such a conventional integrated structure.
[0005]
A base-side connector 12 is provided at the lower end of the mobile phone device 10 which is a kind of information terminal device. On the other hand, the casing 24 of the digital camera unit 20 which is a kind of accessory device is formed with an extended portion 24a projecting at the end, and an external connector 26 is provided at the projecting end of the expanded portion 24a. The casing 22 is provided with a lens 22. When the extended portion 24a is inserted into the mobile phone device 10 and the external connector 26 is electrically and mechanically connected to the base connector 12, they are integrated, and in this state, the digital camera unit 20 is connected to the mobile phone device 10. Provides electrical functions for The electrical function is, for example, a function of transmitting image information captured through the lens 22 and an internal CCD (not shown) to the mobile phone 10 as image data, and the mobile phone device. The image is displayed on the ten liquid crystal screens 10a.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Thus, when the mobile phone device 10 and the digital camera unit 20 are integrated, there is a problem that the entire device is enlarged. In particular, when the base connector 12 is prepared at the lower end of the mobile phone device 10 as in the conventional example, there is a problem that the entire device including the digital camera unit 20 becomes long.
[0007]
Therefore, it is difficult to carry the two in an integrated state, and it is common to connect the two only during use, and in the other cases to separate them and carry them separately. Was not necessarily a situation.
[0008]
In addition, when an external load is applied to one of the mobile phone device 10 or the digital camera unit 20 in a state where both are integrated, a large moment is applied to the extended portion 24a, and the base side and the external side connectors 12, 26 are damaged. There was a problem of doing. For example, when it is attempted to hold only the digital camera unit 20 side by hand, a considerable amount of moment acts on the extension portion 24a due to the weight of the mobile phone device 10, and the extension portion 24a withstands the force. It also had the problem of breaking without being able to.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to integrate an information terminal device and an accessory device with a high degree of freedom to further improve the compactness and durability of the device.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of intensive studies on the above-described integrated structure, the present inventor has found a method for integrating under a rational idea. That is, the above object can be achieved by the following present invention.
[0011]
(1) An accessory having an external connector that can be electrically connected to a base connector provided in the information terminal device, and capable of providing a predetermined electrical function to the information terminal device in the connected state A device-side link including the external-side connector, a body-side link prepared on the body side of the accessory device, and provided between the body-side link and the connector-side link. An intermediate link, wherein the connector side link and the intermediate link are connected by a first hinge, and the intermediate link and the body side link are connected by a second hinge, and the first hinge and the second link An attachment device for an information terminal device, wherein the hinge is swingable at least 90 degrees in both directions from the neutral state .
[0012]
(2) The accessory device for an information terminal device according to (1), wherein the rotation axis of the first hinge and the rotation axis of the second hinge are parallel to each other.
[0013]
(3) The accessory device for an information terminal device according to (1), wherein the rotation axis of the first hinge and the rotation axis of the second hinge are perpendicular to each other.
[0014]
(4) In the above (1), (2) or (3), a third hinge is further provided on any of the connector side link, the intermediate link and the main body side link, and the pivot shaft of the third hinge Is set at right angles to the rotational axes of the first and second hinges.
[0016]
( 5 ) The accessory device for an information terminal device according to any one of (1) to ( 4 ), wherein the information terminal device is a mobile phone device.
(6) An external connector that can be electrically connected to a base connector provided in the information terminal device, and an accessory that can provide a predetermined electrical function to the information terminal device in the connected state A device-side link including the external connector, a body-side link prepared on the body side of the accessory device, and the body-side link and the connector-side link. An intermediate link, wherein the connector side link and the intermediate link are connected by a first hinge, and the intermediate link and the main body side link are connected by a second hinge, and a rotation shaft of the first hinge An accessory device for an information terminal device, characterized in that a rotation axis of the second hinge is at a right angle.
(7) An external connector that can be electrically connected to a base connector provided in the information terminal device, and an accessory that can provide a predetermined electrical function to the information terminal device in the connected state A device-side link including the external connector, a body-side link prepared on the body side of the accessory device, and the body-side link and the connector-side link. An intermediate link, wherein the connector side link and the intermediate link are connected by a first hinge, and the intermediate link and the main body side link are connected by a second hinge, the connector side link, the intermediate link and the main body A third hinge is further provided on one of the side links, and the rotation axis of the third hinge is set to be perpendicular to the rotation axes of the first and second hinges. Accessory device information terminal apparatus according to claim.
[0017]
The inventor has paid attention to the use of (at least) two hinges in order to solve various conventional problems. If it does in this way, it will become possible to fold an auxiliary | assistant apparatus to the information terminal device side, and the whole can be made more compact in the integrated state.
[0018]
If the direction of the pivot axis of each hinge is set appropriately, flexible folding can be realized according to the purpose. Furthermore, even if one of the accessory device and the information terminal device is fixed, the other can be flexibly swung, so that the device can be adjusted and held at a desired angle.
[0019]
Furthermore, since each of the two hinges can effectively absorb the impact (moment) due to the external force, it is possible to suppress the reaction force moment acting on the connector portion, and the both devices (including the connector) Life can be extended.
[0020]
Further, in the case of the attached device of the present invention in which an intermediate link is present, it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in thickness on the information terminal device side by the length of the intermediate link. For example, even in mobile phone devices and notebook PCs, which are becoming increasingly compact in recent years, the main body of the attached device can be closely attached to the information terminal device as long as the intermediate link allows, regardless of the thickness. It becomes possible (details will be described later). Although not specifically illustrated in the present specification, it is desirable that the length of the intermediate link be adjustable, so that the information terminal device can be flexibly adapted to a wide range of thickness changes. Become.
[0021]
The accessory device in the above includes, for example, a wireless communication device that enables wireless communication between the information terminal device and another electronic device, a power supply device that supplies power to the information terminal device, and an image. A digital camera unit capable of capturing and providing image data to the information terminal device, a data recording unit capable of receiving and recording predetermined data from the information terminal device, and the like.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 shows an accessory device for an information terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024]
Here, the cellular phone device 40 is adopted as the information terminal device, and the short-range wireless communication device (BlueTooth standard) 60 is adopted as the accessory device.
[0025]
A connecting recess 44 is formed at the lower end of the casing 42 of the cellular phone device 40, and a base connector 48 (not shown in FIG. 1, see FIG. 4) is provided inside the connecting recess 44. The casing 42 is provided with a liquid crystal display screen 46, a dial or a character input button (not shown), etc., and has a function as a general mobile phone.
[0026]
Various components such as an antenna, a communication module, and a battery are accommodated in the casing 62 of the short-range wireless communication device 60, and various devices (such as personal computers and car navigation systems) including the wireless communication device of the same standard are accommodated. Various types of data can be exchanged with other devices. Although the BlueTooth standard is exemplified here as short-range wireless communication, other standards such as HomeRF standard, infrared communication (IrDA standard), etc. exist, and new standards will be established in the near future. It can happen.
[0027]
As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, an external connector 64 is provided at the end of the short-range wireless communication device 60 and can be connected to the base connector 48. A connector-side link 66 extends in a direction opposite to the base-side connector 64 (in a connected state) with the external-side connector 64 as a reference so that the external-side connector 64 is used as a reference. The body side link 68 is integrally formed (this can be considered as a part of the body). Further, an intermediate link 70 is provided between the main body side link 68 and the connector side link 66. The external connector 64 is inserted into the connecting recess 44 of the mobile phone device 40 and connected to the basic connector 48, so that both are electrically and mechanically connected.
[0028]
Further, the connector side link 66 and the intermediate link 70 are connected by a first hinge 72. The intermediate link 70 and the main body side link 68 have their own rotation axis C2 parallel to the rotation axis C1 of the first hinge 72. The second hinge 74 is connected.
[0029]
In this state, the short-range wireless communication device 60 provides a predetermined electrical function “wireless communication” to the mobile phone device 40.
[0030]
The first hinge 72 can swing at least 90 degrees in both directions (which may be one direction) from a neutral state (a state in which the connector side link 66 and the intermediate link 70 are linearly positioned). Preferably, it can be swung by 100 degrees or more, and more desirably by 110 degrees or more. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the second hinge 74 is also capable of swinging at least 90 degrees in both directions (possible in one direction) from the neutral state, and preferably swingable by 100 degrees or more. Desirably, it can be swung more than 110 degrees. Here, both the first and second hinges 72 and 74 can swing about 110 degrees in both directions.
[0031]
Next, the operation of the short-range wireless communication device 60 will be described.
[0032]
As already shown in FIG. 1, when carrying, both the first and second hinges 72 and 74 are bent by about 90 degrees in the same direction, so that the upper surface (or rear surface) of the short-range wireless communication device 60 on the main body side is Then, it is brought into close contact with the back surface (or even the top surface) of the mobile phone device 40. If it does in this way, the whole apparatus will become compact in the longitudinal direction in the integrated state, and it can be accommodated in a relatively narrow space.
[0033]
The base-side connector 48 in the mobile phone device 40 generally has an asymmetric structure as shown in FIG. 4, for example, and the direction in which the base-side connector 48 is provided depends on the manufacturer of the mobile phone device 40. Is different. Therefore, it is often impossible to determine in advance which direction the short-range wireless communication device 60 can be connected. However, according to this integrated structure, the first and second hinges 72 and 74 can be rotated in both directions from the neutral state, and the swing direction of the main body of the short-range wireless communication device 60 can be freely selected. Therefore, the folding direction is not restricted by the connection direction. Therefore, it is possible to always fold the short-range wireless communication device 60 on the back side of the mobile phone devices 40 of a plurality of manufacturers and a plurality of mobile phone companies. Don't get in the way.
[0034]
FIG. 5 shows a state in which the cellular phone device 40 is in short-range wireless communication with another device.
[0035]
In general, communication quality of a short-range wireless communication device may be improved by adjusting the holding angle of the entire device.
[0036]
In particular, in the case of a structure in which an antenna is built in the casing 62 as in the short-range wireless communication device 60, the effect is often significant. For example, in FIG. 5, the first hinge 72 is swung about 90 degrees while the mobile phone device 40 is placed on the table 38, and the second hinge 74 is brought into a substantially neutral state. The angle of the wireless communication device 60 can be manually adjusted. Here, since the two hinges 72 and 74 can be used, the swing angle range of the short-range wireless communication device 60 can be secured extremely wide.
[0037]
After the setting is completed, even if the hand is released, the cellular phone device 40 itself becomes a base and can maintain this posture, so that stable communication for a long time is possible. Although the case where the mobile phone device 40 is used as a base is shown here, the mobile phone device 40 may be held in a substantially upright (or inclined) posture using the short-range wireless communication device 60 as a base. it can. In this case, the short-range wireless communication device 60 can function as a mobile phone stand. The maintenance of these postures can be achieved by appropriately setting the frictional forces of the two hinges 72 and 74.
[0038]
By the way, the thickness T of the cellular phone device 40 is completely different depending on each manufacturer, model, and the like. For example, FIG. 6 shows an integrated structure when a thin mobile phone device 50 having a thickness T set relatively thin and the short-range wireless communication device 60 are connected.
[0039]
In this case, when the first hinge 72 swings about 80 degrees from the neutral state and the second hinge 74 swings about 100 degrees from the neutral state, the intermediate link 70 tilts with respect to the other links, and the thin mobile phone device 50 and the short-range wireless communication device 60 can be brought into close contact with each other in a parallel state. Therefore, as long as it is within the range of the oscillation angle of each hinge 72, 74 is permitted, it is possible to flexibly and thickness T of the thin portable telephone device 5 0 slightly changed. Accordingly, in consideration of the thickness T of the thin mobile phone device 50 of various manufacturers, the length of the intermediate link 70 is secured to some extent and the first and second hinges are secured in order to be able to adapt to as many models as possible. The swing angle range of 72 and 74 is preferably as wide as possible.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, the mobile phone device 40 (50) is employed as the information terminal device, and the short-range wireless communication device 60 is employed as the accessory device. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the information terminal device includes various computers (including notebook PCs, desktop PCs, handheld PCs, etc.), car navigation systems, PHS mobile phone devices, and the like. In addition, as an attached device, information such as an imaging device (digital camera unit), a power supply device (for example, a rechargeable battery), a hard disk device or other storage device, a speaker device, a microphone device, a mobile phone device as a data communication device, a liquid crystal display device, etc. Various devices capable of providing an electrical function to a terminal device are applicable. In addition to the external connector for connecting to the information end device, the accessory device may be separately provided with a cable, a connector, or the like for connecting to another device.
[0041]
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the main body side link 68 is integrally provided with respect to the main body of the short-range wireless communication device 60 is shown, but the main body side link 68 and the main body itself may be detachable. . Further, a third hinge may be further provided on any of the connector side link 66, the intermediate link 70, and the main body side link 68. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a third hinge 80 may be provided on the connector side link 66. Here, the rotation axis C3 of the third hinge 80 is set at a right angle with respect to the rotation axes C1 and C2 of the first and second hinges 72 and 74, and positioning with a higher degree of freedom on the main body side is possible. It has become.
[0042]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, although the case where the rotating shafts C1 and C2 of the first and second hinges 72 and 74 are parallel to each other has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotating shafts C1, C2 What is necessary is just to set a direction suitably.
[0043]
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the rotation axis C <b> 1 of the first hinge 72 and the rotation axis C <b> 2 of the second hinge 74 may be set at right angles. Here, in particular, the rotation axis C1 is parallel to the connecting direction of the connector. In this way, the short-range wireless communication device 60 can be folded compactly with respect to the mobile phone device 40. Further, although not particularly shown here, the short-range wireless communication device 60 can be folded to the casing side surface 42S side of the mobile phone device 40 by setting the first hinge 74 to a substantially neutral state. That is, the casing 42 can be folded according to the user's preference in the three directions of the front surface 42T side, the back surface 42B side, and the side surface 42S side.
[0044]
Although only one embodiment has been shown here, there are embodiments in which these parts are appropriately combined within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. There are also embodiments. The features (functions / shapes) of the members appearing in the entire specification are merely examples, and are not limited to these descriptions.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the information terminal device and the accessory device can be integrated under a rational idea, and the portability, convenience, and the like in a state where both are integrated can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an integrated state of an attached device and an information terminal device according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an open / closed state of a first hinge in the attached device. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the open / close state of the second hinge in the accessory device. FIG. 4 is an end view showing the base-side connector in the information terminal device in an enlarged manner. FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view showing an integrated state when the information terminal device is thin. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the embodiment of the attached device. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an overall view showing an integrated state of the conventional information terminal device and the accessory device.
40, 50 ... mobile phone device 60 ... short-range wireless communication device 66 ... connector side link 68 ... main body side link 70 ... intermediate link 72 ... first hinge 74 ... second hinge

Claims (7)

An auxiliary device having an external connector that can be electrically connected to a base connector provided in the information terminal device and capable of providing a predetermined electrical function to the information terminal device in the connected state. hand,
A connector-side link extending including the external-side connector, a body-side link prepared on the body side of the accessory device, and an intermediate link provided between the body-side link and the connector-side link. Prepared,
The connector side link and the intermediate link are connected by a first hinge, and the intermediate link and the main body side link are connected by a second hinge ,
The accessory device for an information terminal device, wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are capable of swinging at least 90 degrees in both directions from a neutral state . In claim 1,
An accessory device for an information terminal device, characterized in that a rotation axis of the first hinge and a rotation axis of the second hinge are parallel to each other. In claim 1,
The accessory device for an information terminal device, characterized in that a rotation axis of the first hinge and a rotation axis of the second hinge are perpendicular to each other. In claim 1, 2 or 3,
A third hinge is further provided on any of the connector side link, the intermediate link, and the main body side link, and the rotation axis of the third hinge is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first and second hinges. An accessory device for an information terminal device, characterized in that it is set to   In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
  The information terminal device is a mobile phone device
  An accessory device for an information terminal device.   An auxiliary device having an external connector that can be electrically connected to a base connector provided in the information terminal device and capable of providing a predetermined electrical function to the information terminal device in the connected state. hand,
  A connector-side link extending including the external-side connector, a body-side link prepared on the body side of the accessory device, and an intermediate link provided between the body-side link and the connector-side link. Prepared,
  The connector side link and the intermediate link are connected by a first hinge, and the intermediate link and the main body side link are connected by a second hinge,
  The rotation axis of the first hinge and the rotation axis of the second hinge are perpendicular to each other.
  An accessory device for an information terminal device. An auxiliary device having an external connector that can be electrically connected to a base connector provided in the information terminal device and capable of providing a predetermined electrical function to the information terminal device in the connected state. hand,
  A connector-side link extending including the external-side connector, a body-side link prepared on the body side of the accessory device, and an intermediate link provided between the body-side link and the connector-side link. Prepared,
  The connector side link and the intermediate link are connected by a first hinge, and The intermediate link and the main body side link are connected by a second hinge,
  A third hinge is further provided on any of the connector side link, the intermediate link, and the main body side link, and the rotation axis of the third hinge is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first and second hinges. Set to
  An accessory device for an information terminal device.

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